Tradition returns at Beverly Homecoming

Thursday

Jul 25, 2013 at 12:01 AMJul 25, 2013 at 7:18 PM

Homecoming provides a chance for local towns and communities to welcome back former residents through a series of fun, community-strengthening events. Traditionally, homecoming features football games, marching bands and pep rallies. However, at the homecoming in Beverly, tradition means lip synching contests and lobster boat races.

Cameron Williams / beverly@wickedlocal.com

Homecoming provides a chance for local towns and communities to welcome back former residents through a series of fun, community-strengthening events. Traditionally, homecoming features football games, marching bands and pep rallies. However, at the homecoming in Beverly, tradition means lip synching contests and lobster boat races.

Starting Aug. 2, Beverly will launch its 48th annual Beverly Homecoming featuring events around the city. An unofficial start is scheduled for Friday, July 26 with the 42nd annual City Adult Tennis Tournament. It will officially commence a few days later with a softball game between the Beverly Fire Department and Salem Fire Department. Aug. 3 will mark the first full day of events beginning with a Red Cross Blood Drive and the Liberty Lodge “All-You-Can-Eat” pancake breakfast at 8 a.m. at the Masonic Hall, 20 Washington St., where community members can get an all-you-can-eat meal for $5 (kids are $3). This year, the menu includes blueberry and plain pancakes, scrambled eggs and sausage, plus all the fixin’s. The proceeds of this event help support the Mason’s many community service projects, such as meals for the homeless at St. Peter’s, the Child Identification Program and Chester Battis Scholarships.

The homecoming is put together yearly by a board of directors and volunteers.

“We have several new things this year,” said Homecoming President Bruce Doig, whom will be serving his fourth consecutive year in the position and also acts the recreation department manager for the city of Beverly. “We have everything.” Amongst the new events listed by Doig is a reception fundraiser for the Lynch Park Carriage House on Aug. 9.

“We thought it would be nice opportunity to showcase the Carriage House,” said Carriage House event coordinator Suzanne Lanzikos. The event will be attended by Beverly Mayor Bill Scanlon, who has supported the recent renovations at the Carriage House, which include a new roof, floors and French double doors.

“He saw the value of repairing the Carriage House,” said Paul Lanzikos of Scanlon. Lanzikos is credited with upstarting the movement to renovate Carriage House and making the house apart of homecoming this year. “The Friday of homecoming was usually a slow day, and this event will add something more,” Lanzikos said.

A reported $100,000 has been granted in renovating the historic home. Despite its lengthy history with the city, this will be the first year Carriage House is involved with the Beverly Homecoming.

While new events at this year’s homecoming show signs of Beverly breaking free from tradition, the format and impact of the Beverly Homecoming remains largely the same since the first homecoming in 1966.

“It was started by a small group of businessmen and it has since taken off,” said Doig about the homecoming’s growth over the years. Since the inaugural homecoming in 1966, it has since blossomed into a 10-day affair featuring over 80 events

Even with its growth and change over the years, certain events at the Beverly Homecoming have become a staple. “We always have the lobster festival and fireworks,” said Doig. Another staple of Homecoming is Airport Day, which is scheduled to occur on Aug. 3 this year beginning at 9 a.m. Airport Day is held at Beverly Municipal Airport and sponsored by the Beverly Airport Commission. The event features a yard sale, aircraft displays, raffles and baked goods.

Another annual yet more unconventional event is the Kids Spirit of Lobster Fest Costume Contest, which sees Beverly’s younger residents compete to win prizes by dressing in their best lobster costumes. Other annual events include a summer movie series, a lacrosse game involving the alumni of Beverly High School, classic car shows and Senior Day where senior citizens are welcome to a barbecue and concert at Lynch Park.

Local businesses will be given the opportunity to set up vendor tables at the Lobster Festival and pay sponsor fee of $300 with money going to the Beverly Homecoming Fireworks Fund. Beverly Homecoming will conclude on the night of Aug. 11 with a grand finale of fireworks.

Schedules and other information for this year’s Beverly Homecoming can be found at beverlyhomecoming.homestead.com; and check out this week’s special section in the Citizen for more on Homecoming news and happenings.